New front page system?

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moni158's avatar
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Honestly I don't know how people will respond to this? Negative or positive? I don't know, all I know is I have to say it.

I have already made a poll about it and it seems the majority weren't even aware there was a new system, most people actually thought it was a bug...says a lot about it already. Anyway... I have sent and inquiry and I can now officially confirm DA is running a new front page system. Let me explain what it basically does. The 'popular page' called so because popular works are featured there has changed. The new system is designed to give a leg up to more 'undiscovered artists'. Basically? the system no longer works according to favourites like the old system did. More obscure categories are granted priority over more popular ones e.g Fanart-anime manga- movies TV would be replaced by a image with a lower fav count from Fanart-digital-vector. Before I get lynched by people accusing me of being annoyed/jealous because my own work is no longer featured on the front page? I am annoyed because it is a misleading and deceptive system. It is also grotesquely unfair.

Why is this bad to make it easier to get on the front page? making it easy to get onto the front page is the whole problem. There is no sugar coating it, DA is a very very competitive place and that is what makes it a great site. It actively pushes people to improve, take risks and learn how to network to reach the front page. This new system is unstable and pointless. People will reach the front page but it will be because of a fluke not because they have built up a fan base of people who genuinely enjoy their artwork.  It will be completely inconsistent.

DA had a great system, a lot of people will disagree, but the competitive atmosphere is what made this place interesting. It had an edge on other sites because their system wasn't as smooth, their interface wasn't as aesthetically pleasing and there wasn't such a big drive to 'make it'.

I know DA did it out of good will, but I firmly believe it is a mistake. They will lose their 'popular' artists who will go else where because of this bias attitude. No one started popular, they were made popular by the community because the community chose them. I really like this site and I would hate to see DeviantArt ruin it like it is doing.

I think the new system would have been a brilliant idea if they had created a new page for it alongside 'popular' and 'newest'  instead of it acting as a replacement. This would give those who are tired of the same old same old, a place to go find new stuff instead of that being the only option for everyone.

I will give you an example of how this system would look. The folks up at the Broadcasting Standards Authority decide that the Ipod is getting too much screen time. They drastically cut its air time, and only let it broadcast at night time so the new product can get a leg up. Is that fair? Is that how things work? I am sure there would be public outcry and law suits shooting left and right.

But the thing about DA is we don't really get a say, DA is a free site so they don't really have to abide by their members suggestions ( though it is a good idea considering their members are their income..not a good idea to piss them off). They have done a few things people disagreed with. e.g making journals into deviations. A lot of people are also saying that they are doing this new system so people will buy more premium memberships? I don't really buy that but I think they are trying to make their site more 'friendly' to new comers. But alas I am rather convinced they are doing it wrong.

What do you think? Do you like the new system or do you think its a mistake?

If you are opposed to the new system please let DA know, and spread the word. They won't do anything if no one says anything. I have also openend a threat about it on the suggestion forum here forum.deviantart.com/devart/su…


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kamon159's avatar
I'm fifteen, been drawing since the age of eight, and loyal to deviantART for three years now. I think the best thing about it is that I've gotten critiques from many people, mostly people I don't know, which makes it even better, and caught a glimpse of what the 'professional artist' is like. I've never been so big on statistics, but even so, since then I've been trying to slowly work up the ranks to see something from me hit the front page, just to see if my time learning from the other members here has been worth it. I mean, that's what getting on the front page is right? It's something you earn, right, because you're working really hard for it?

I mean, I know I'm nowhere near there yet, and probably not anytime soon, but this new system thing kind of makes me want it less.